New Hampshire Diocese Names 14 Priests Accused of Abuse

By PAM BELLUCK

Published: February 16, 2002

BOSTON, Feb. 15—
In a reflection of the rising concern over pedophile priests in the Roman Catholic Church, the bishop of the diocese of Manchester, N.H., today announced the names of 14 priests who had been accused of sexually abusing children in the past and turned those names over to prosecutors.

''People wonder not only what has the church in New Hampshire done about this in the past, but also what is it doing to make the church safe for children in the future,'' said Bishop John B. McCormack, whose diocese covers New Hampshire. ''There have been instances in New Hampshire where priests have had inappropriate contact with children.''

The announcement comes in the midst of a widening scandal over pedophile priests in the Boston archdiocese. In January, the archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard F. Law, apologized for allowing John J. Geoghan, a known pedophile, to remain an active priest until the early 1990's.

In recent days, the Boston archdiocese has sent prosecutors the names of some 80 priests suspected of molesting children since the 1960's. Eight were active priests whom the archdiocese has since suspended.

''The news regarding the handling of priests accused of sexual misconduct in Greater Boston has had an effect on the church in New Hampshire,'' Bishop McCormack said. ''It is normal for people to ask, If it has happened there, what about here?''

In New Hampshire, one of the 14 priests named today was an active full-time priest, the Rev. John R. Poirier of Holy Family Parish in Gorham. Six other priests were retired or sick, but would assist part time in parishes by saying Mass on weekends, said a diocese spokesman, Patrick F. McGee. As of today, those seven priests were all removed from active duty.

The remaining seven priests had already been removed from active ministry as a result of the accusations against them.

The accusations against the 14 New Hampshire priests were reported to the diocese over the last 30 years; the incidents are alleged to have happened between 1963 and 1987, Mr. McGee said.

Under New Hampshire law, child sexual assault charges can be brought until a victim's 40th birthday, and diocesan officials said they expected criminal investigations to begin.

Bishop McCormack made an effort today to explain why some priests were allowed to continue working in parishes.

''Previous policy and practice have allowed for the return of some priests to ministry after careful evaluation and assurances from experts that they could do so without placing anyone at risk,'' the bishop said.

''It is now clear to me that any credible allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor by a priest means that he cannot return to ministry in New Hampshire,'' he said.

Bishop McCormack formerly served as a cabinet secretary in the Boston archdiocese, and he is one of several current or former archdiocesan officials who are accused of taking too little action in some of the 130 lawsuits filed by people who say they were molested by Mr. Geoghan.

In 1993, Bishop McCormack, who was not yet a bishop, was a point person on Cardinal Law's new policy of taking parishioner complaints about abusive priests and removing some priests from active duty.

Mr. McGee declined to discuss Bishop McCormack's role in the Geoghan case.

Bishop McCormack is scheduled to visit Gorham, Father Poirier's former parish, this weekend, said Maurice Champoux, the parish council president.

Mr. McGee said the accusation against Father Poirier was made ''over 20 years ago and we have no record of any other accusations made against him.''